Razor blade sharpener



Jan. 19, 1960 J. M. LE DUC RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER Filed July 28, 1958 John M. LeDuc 1 N VEN TOR.

-fiti c RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER John M. Le Duc, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application July 28, 1958, Serial No. 751,311

2 Claims. (Cl. 51214) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in sharpeners particularly for safety razor blades of the double-edge type and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character which is adapted to sharpen both edges of such blades simultaneously.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a sharpener of the aforementioned character comprising novel means for mounting the blade in the device and actuating said blade.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a razor blade sharpener of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a razor blade sharpener constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view, showing the device open;

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation, showing the device closed;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view in transverse section, taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a detail view in perspective of the slidable blade carriage or shuttle.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a pair of elongated upper and lower jaws 6 and 7, respectively, of suitable resilient sheet metal. The lower jaw 7 includes an end portion of reduced width which is rolled to provide a loop or eye 8. The corresponding end portion of the upper jaw 6 has formed transversely therein a slot 9 providing a bar 10 which is journaled in the loop 3 for pivotally connecting said jaw 6 and lower jaw 7 at one end. At the free ends thereof the jaws 6 and 7 terminate in divergent handles 11. The longitudinal marginal portions of the jaws 6 and 7 have formed transversely therein interfitting or meshing undulations 12 the purpose of which will be presently set forth. As shown to advantage in Figure 4 of the drawing, the undulations 12 slant inwardly from the longitudinal edges of the jaws 6 and 7.

The jaws 6 and 7 are adapted to receive for longitudinal sliding movement therebetween a conventional doubleedge safety razor blade to be sharpened, as indicated at 13. Toward this end, the jaws 6 and 7 have formed therein, respectively, longitudinal slots 14 and 15. Mounted for longitudinal reciprocation on the lower jaw 7 is a blade carriage or shuttle 16. The carriage 16 includes a substantially rectangular metallic plate 17 which is slidably engaged beneath the jaw 7. Rising from the ends of the plate 17 are substantially T-shaped members or lugs 18 which are operable in the slot 15 and which rest on -thenjaw 7 for slidably securing the carriage 16 thereon. Also rising from the plate 17, at an intermediate point, is an operating handle in the form of a stud 19 for actuating the carriage 16. The handle 19 is operable in the slot 15. With the jaws 6 and 7 in closed position, the lugs 18 and handle 19 project through and are operable in the slot 14.

It is thought that the use or operation of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the jaws 6 and 7 are swung to open position as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. The blade 13 to be sharpened is positioned longitudinally on the lower jaw 7 with the lugs 18 and the operating handle 19 projecting through the usual longitudinal slot in said blade. The cylindrical handle 19 fits snugly in the usual circular opening in the intermediate portion of the blade and the lugs 18 engage in the substantially V-shaped notches of said blade for stabilizing same and preventing rotation or turning thereof on said handle 19. The jaws 6 and 7 are then closed for frictionally clamping the blade 13 therebetween with the cutting edges thereof engaged with the undulations 12. The handles 11 are then pressed together for applying the desired pressure to the blade. This may be done with the thumb and index finger of one hand. With the other hand, the carriage 16 is actuated through the medium of the handle 19 for reciprocating the blade 13. When the blade 13 is thus reciprocated the undulations 12 sharpen the cutting edges thereof in an obvious manner. Struck from the free end portion of the jaw 7 is a lug 20. The lug 20 is engageable in an opening 21 provided therefor in the corresponding end portion of the jaws 6 for preventing swinging movement of said jaw 6 relative to the jaw 7 when the device is closed.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A double-edge blade sharpener of the character described comprising: a pair of elongated jaws pivotally connected at one end and adapted to clampingly receive the blade longitudinally therebetween, said jaws having registering longitudinal slots therein, a blade carriage on one of the jaws, said carriage including an elongated plate slidable longitudinally on one side of said one jaw, substantially T-shaped lugs on the ends of the plate operable in the slots and engaged with the other side of said one jaw for mounting said plate thereon, an operating handle on the plate at an intermediate point and operable in the slots for reciprocating the carriage, said lugs and said handle being engageable in the blade for reciprocating same between the jaws, and complemental transverse undulations on the longitudinal marginal portions of the jaws frictionally engageable with the cutting edges of the blade for sharpening said cutting edges, said undulations slanting inwardly from the longitudinal edges of the jaws.

2. A double-edge blade sharpener comprising: elongated upper and lower jaws pivotally connected at one end and adapted to clampingly receive the blade therebetween, said lower jaw having a longitudinal slot therein, a plate slidable beneath the lower jaw, upstanding substantially T-shaped lugs on the plate operable in the slot and engaged on the lower jaw for mounting said plate thereon, an operating handle on the plate operable in the slot, said lugs and said handle being engageable in the 3 4 blade for connecting same to the plate for actuation References Cited in the file of this patent thereby, said upper jaw having a longitudinal slot there- UNITED STATES PATENTS in accommodating the lugs and the handle, transverse undulations on the longitudinal marginal portions of the 1,776,642 Stanford Sept' 1930 jaws engageable with the cutting edges of the blade for 5 1806'437 Woodward May 1931 sharpening same, and handles on the free ends of the jaws 1'968424 Rous July 1934 for closing ame on the blade Murchison g 

